Two community hospitals on Vancouver Island are defying expectations and positioning themselves as national leaders in surgical innovation, driven by an extraordinary wave of local philanthropy. The Royal Jubilee Hospital (RJH) and Victoria General Hospital (VGH) are now equipped with cutting-edge technology, including a state-of-the-art surgical robot, thanks to the fundraising efforts of the Victoria Hospitals Foundation (VHF).
Community Generosity Fuels a Surgical Revolution
The transformative journey began two years ago with a donor-funded project that installed Canada's most advanced AI technology in an MRI refurbishment. This was soon followed by the arrival of Vancouver Island's first surgical robotic system at Royal Jubilee Hospital, only the second of its kind in British Columbia. Phase I of the VHF's 'It's Time for Surgical Innovation' campaign raised an impressive $17-million from more than 3,400 donors in under a year. This funding secured the da Vinci surgical robot and 50 essential, top-tier surgical tools.
Dr. Jeff McCracken, chief urologist and the newly appointed head of robotics for RJH and VGH, has championed this technology for 17 years. He credits the community entirely for this leap forward. "We're living examples of how philanthropy can really change the landscape," says Dr. McCracken. "The community is a hundred per cent responsible for this. There clearly is a desire in the community to elevate the level of care being delivered."
Impatient Benefits for Patients and the System
The impact of the new robotic-assisted surgery program has been immediate and profound. Since the first procedure on February 3, 2025, over 280 surgeries have been performed across urology, ear, nose and throat, and general surgery. Patients are experiencing significantly faster recoveries, less need for pain medication, and a sharp drop in hospital readmissions.
The benefits extend system-wide, addressing critical inefficiencies. "We have the system now where patients go home within 24 hours of surgery," Dr. McCracken explains. He adds that monthly surgery cancellations have plummeted by about 85 percent due to the new, highly workable system. This efficiency saves hundreds of bed days and is actively helping to reduce patient wait times by tackling the persistent problem of last-minute cancellations.
A $7.5-Million Match Launches the Next Phase
Building on this remarkable success, the Victoria Hospitals Foundation has launched Phase II: 'It's Time for Surgical Evolution.' This ambitious $21-million campaign aims to solidify RJH and VGH as national leaders in minimally invasive care. The next phase is anchored by the largest gift in the foundation's 36-year history: a transformational $7.5-million match donation from a local philanthropist. Every new donation to the campaign will be matched, effectively doubling its impact.
The funds will expand robotic surgery into new specialties like gynecology, oncology, thoracics, and pediatric surgery with a second da Vinci system. It will also bring a Mazor neurosurgical robot to Victoria, making it one of the few centres in Canada with this pinnacle technology for brain and spine surgery.
Avery Brohman, CEO of the Victoria Hospitals Foundation, reflects on the community's commitment. "Here in Victoria, we can now proudly say that we are setting the standard for surgical innovation in community hospitals that others look to and aspire toward – we are leaders in this space."
For Dr. McCracken, this technological advancement is about more than today's patient outcomes; it's about future-proofing healthcare on Vancouver Island. By bringing academic-level technology to a community setting, Victoria can now attract and recruit top-tier surgical talent that might otherwise go to larger urban centres. As Mrs. Brohman states, "On Vancouver Island, our community hospitals proved what is possible when philanthropy leads the way."
